Munnar, the cherished hill station, is currently grappling with a troubling rise in attacks on its visitors. This concerning trend has overshadowed the recent Puja holiday period, with no fewer than three assault cases reported in under a week.
On October 3rd, three hotel management students from Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, suffered injuries in an attack, leading to the arrest of three individuals from Pallivasal. The very next day, October 4th, a group of tourists hailing from Kollam was assaulted near Top Station, a picturesque location close to Munnar. Adding to this disturbing pattern, a family from Thrikkakkara, Ernakulam, was targeted in Old Munnar, just outside the town, on October 6th. All victims are currently hospitalized, and law enforcement agencies are actively investigating these incidents.
These repeated acts of violence against tourists have ignited widespread apprehension among Munnar’s tourism community. G. Sojan, coordinator of the My Munnar Movement, emphasized that tourism is the primary source of income for the majority of the region’s inhabitants. He highlighted the escalating number of attacks and noted how videos of these incidents are rapidly circulating on social media, sparking a detrimental campaign against Munnar. Tourism stakeholders are now deeply worried that these events will significantly deter future tourist arrivals. There is a strong consensus that the police and other relevant authorities must implement robust measures and enhance surveillance to proactively prevent such occurrences.
A vendor in Munnar town corroborated these concerns, remarking that most assaults arise from trivial disagreements. He also pointed out a disturbing trend: many tourists opt to leave the hill station without filing formal complaints, which inadvertently contributes to the persistence of these incidents. Intriguingly, he also mentioned cases where women have been involved in perpetrating attacks on tourists.
In light of these escalating issues, Munnar Deputy Superintendent of Police S. Chandrakumar has pledged that the police will take decisive action against anyone involved in attacking tourists. He also assured visitors that the Munnar police station operates 24/7 to provide assistance. Furthermore, in anticipation of the upcoming Deepavali holidays, additional police personnel will be deployed across all major tourist destinations to guarantee the safety and security of every traveler.